Curriculum

Faculty and students in the Department of Painting and Printmaking work together in a professional and creative learning environment. The undergraduate curriculum enables students to adopt a specialized focus within the discipline and use elective options to pursue other areas of interest in the School of the Arts, the university and the community. It also permits students to tailor a course of study suited to their professional and personal ambitions. The undergraduate program provides students with opportunities for concentrated experiences in both practice and theory as a foundation for independent exploration and artistic development. Classroom discussions invite students to examine a range of contemporary critical issues, which enable them to understand their own studio work in relation to historical continuum. As students develop their skills in critical analysis they are challenged to articulate and justify their ideas both visually and verbally.

The size and diversity of the faculty guarantee exposure to a plurality of ideas and stylistic approaches. In addition, the department’s visiting artist program brings to campus leading figures in the world of contemporary art for discussions of their work, critiques of student work and workshops.

PAPR 201. Painting From Observation. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: ARTF 131, ARTF 132, ARTF 133 and ARTF 134. Introduction to the materials of oil and/or acrylic paint through a practice of painting from observation. Students will practice fundamental concepts in the medium and gain understanding of the context of contemporary and historic painting.

PAPR 210. Painting for Non-majors. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 1 lecture and 6 studio hours. 3 credits. Open to non-art majors only. The course will offer an opportunity for students to work with some of the ideas and materials of painting through lecture and studio involvement.

PAPR 211. Print Media I. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: ARTF 131, ARTF 132, ARTF 133 and ARTF 134. Designed for students beginning to explore the development of their visual vocabulary utilizing the multiple. This course is meant to be taken as part of a year-long module including etching, lithography, screen printing and digital imaging.

PAPR 231. Drawing from Observation. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: ARTF 131, ARTF 132, ARTF 133 and ARTF 134. This course continues the development of students’ proficiencies in drawing through an emphasis on representation, illusion and mimesis. Students will gain an understanding of fundamental concepts in drawing, including figure/ground relationships, planes and volumes, and formal and expressive approaches to mark-making.

PAPR 290. Concepts and Issues. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. A lecture course that familiarizes students with contemporary artworks, as well as modern and postmodern concepts. Students will be introduced to contemporary issues in art through the presentation of slides, films and visiting speakers. Visits to outside events and lectures will be required.

PAPR 301. Painting Strategies. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PAPR 201. This course will explore contemporary ideas in painting through studio practice, critique, lecture, reading and discussion. Students will be exposed to relevant contemporary theory and will pursue issues such as abstraction, installation, site specificity and process, as well as systemic and conceptual approaches to painting.

PAPR 304. Paint Practice and Theory. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: PAPR 211, PAPR 231 and PAPR 301. This course utilizes the group critique as its principle teaching methodology and explores critical issues in the field of painting. Each student will pursue a studio practice, complete assigned reading and participate in discussion.

PAPR 309. Electronic Strategies. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. A digital media course designed to acclimatize students with the use of computers in the context of fine art. As opposed to common perceptions of “computer art,” students will learn to use the computer as they would any other tool — to articulate their ideas and add to their artistic practice. Through in-class exercises and homework assignments emphasizing problem-solving, students will learn to express their ideas through this emerging medium.

PAPR 311. Print Media II. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: ARTF 131, ARTF 132, ARTF 133 and ARTF 134. Further studies for students exploring the development of their visual vocabulary utilizing the multiple. This course is meant to be taken as part of a year-long module including etching, lithography, screen printing and digital imaging.

PAPR 314. Print Practice and Theory. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: PAPR 201, PAPR 211, PAPR 231, and PAPR 311. This course utilizes the group critique as its principle teaching methodology. It builds advanced printmaking skill and is a seminar on critical issues in the field. Each student will pursue a studio practice, complete assigned reading and participate in discussion.

PAPR 330. Figure Painting. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PAPR 205 or permission of instructor. Designed to allow advanced painting students to work on a continuous basis with the life model in painting. The first half of the semester is focused on old master techniques and styles from earlier periods in art. The second half of the semester examines the work of contemporary figurative painters in the context of developing each student’s individual approach to technique, style and content.

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum total of six credits. Prerequisites: junior standing as a major in painting and printmaking and approval of department chair and instructor. Individual instruction and supervision of a special project. Learning experiences should be designed with the supervising faculty member in the form of a contract between student and instructor. This course is limited to those students who have demonstrated an exceptional level of ability and intense commitment to their discipline.

PAPR 401. Painting Investigations. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PAPR 301. With the emphasis on the exploration of an individual direction, this course continues the development of a student’s technical and conceptual proficiencies in the context of contemporary painting practices.

PAPR 402. Senior Degree Project. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: PAPR 304 or PAPR 314. In this course the student will pursue an independent studio practice toward the development of a personal and informed body of advanced work.

PAPR 412. Printmaking, Advanced (Lithography). 3 Hours.

Semester course; 9 studio hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: 3 credits of intermediate printmaking or permission of instructor. Specialization in one medium. Aesthetic suitability of the design to a particular medium is emphasized.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 20 credits. Prerequisites: 4 credits of intermediate printmaking or permission of instructor. Specialization in one medium with emphasis upon technical research and aesthetic suitability of the design to the particular medium used.

PAPR 423. Experimental Printmaking. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits. Prerequisites: 3 credits of intermediate printmaking or permission of instructor. Relief printing, collographs, monoprints, photoengraving and mixed media will be investigated.

PAPR 431. Drawing and the Model. 4 Hours.

Semester course; 2 lecture and 6 studio hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: PAPR 331. Historical and contemporary figure drawing will be explored with an emphasis on developing the student’s individual approach to the figure.

PAPR 490. Senior Seminar. 2 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 2 credits. Information to help graduating seniors in the department of painting and printmaking meet the professional requirements involved in exhibiting and promoting their creative work and in functioning as an artist. Writing intensive.

PAPR 491. Topics in Painting and Printmaking. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 12 credits. Topical course focusing on creative expression and research in the areas of painting and printmaking. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered.

PAPR 492. Independent Study in Painting and Printmaking. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum total of six credits. Prerequisites: senior status as a major in painting and printmaking and approval of department chair and instructor. Individual instruction and supervision of a special project. Learning experiences should be designed with the supervising faculty member in the form of a contract between student and instructor. This course is limited to those students who have demonstrated an exceptional level of ability and intense commitment to their discipline